Footballers require no translations

SAM BAKER/The Manawatu Standard

SYMBOLIC: A rainbow shines over the melting pot of football players preparing to kick off the first Ethkick game on Saturday in Palmerston North.

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They might be thousands of kilometres away from home, but the Oman football team had plenty of supporters cheering them on at the Ethkick final in the weekend.

A solid 2-1 win against Barcelona at the end of play on Saturday saw Oman, which is made up of Massey University students from the Arab country, take home the cup for the second year in a row.

As the first games kicked off in Palmerston North a rainbow loomed over the teams, made up of people Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, Somalia, Ireland, Pakistan, England, Thailand, Fiji and Congolese.

There were more than 500 people playing, Ethkick organising committee chairwoman Heather Tanguay said.

Kelvin Grove's Celaeno Park was filled with an array of languages but all 39 teams shared the language of football, she said.

"You don't have to speak English to be in it because the rules of football are universal."

The tournament meant the communities, which often feel isolated, can be part of something and be proud of who they are, Mrs Tanguay said.

The annual seven-a-side football festival was launched last year as a way to bring the diverse cultures and communities living in the city together.

A concert with hourly performances kept the festival atmosphere alive as players grew weary during the 18-round knock-out tournament.

The Oman goalkeeper was named most valuable player and the Fijian-Indian community were given the best participation award for entering five teams, from veterans to children.

The Ethkick organising committee want to hand control of the event, which is funded by the Eastern and Central Community Trust and Lottery Community grants, over to a trust made up of ethnic community members. Anyone interested in joining the trust can contact Heather Tanguay on 3558083.

- © Fairfax NZ News